Last night, I settled me-self down to play brain-dead while catching up on junk-food television--Grey's Anatomy, Lost, and by gods, yes indeed, America's Next Top Model (don't tell anyone that I watch that show, OK?!)-- as a reward for a long, tough week of job-searching (YAY! I have an interview with a private school this Thursday!!), soul-searching, slavishly reading away for my thesis prospectus, and working too many hours after school (i.e. at my job) on school-related tasks.

Luckily, John's Pharmer (Pharmacy school students) friends decided a trip to downtown San Francisco was in order, so at 11 pm I struggled out of my comfy p.j.s and into something sassy and sexy, caught a cab, and met them at XYZ Bar at the W (Westin) Hotel. Here's a pic of John and I cheezing it up:

And here's a somewhat blurry pic of the dress I am wearing (which I'll admit is a current favorite of mine as it certainly stands out in a city that tends to wear a lot of black!):BTW, the drinks and beers ($7 for a Corona or the like!) are super-overpriced at XYZ Bar. However, the wine pricing is pretty spot-on and so I had me a lovely glass of Riesling and an Austrian Gruner Veltliner.

That's all? A penny won't get ya very far, will it Holly? Nope, not all all!! However...

In College: If you decide to study the Humanities (philosophy, literature, the "Classics"), Art, or even Psychology, DO THE SMART THING and also major in Business or Science. Spend an extra year (or two) in college and do the double major thing, that way you'll satisfy your passion, plus have a bit of practicality. (Even better is to do the community college thing for your general education classes and then transfer to the college of your dreams!)

In Life and Pursuance of a Career: Learn how to network; it helps at all times, but especially during economic downturns.

Money: Do indeed save that three months worth of living expenses. Six months is even better! You'll never know when you'll need it. Plus, you can always take half of it and go on a vacation to some exotic place! Oooh-la-la.

So what's up with me? Why all the annoying Auntie Holly advice?

I'm seeking a new job and boy-oh-boy does the job/career world like the business- and science-minded folks.

Networking actually works! Just today I might have a lead on a job for a junior/high private school in the Bay Area via a college friend. Yippee!

And, well, we all (or almost all of us) could almost always use a reminder to save some of our dough. Consumption is not always the answer.

I'll give you a metaphorical nickel for your thoughts. Any nuggets of advice? (BTW, if it is especially good, I may even knit you something or send you some yarn.)

Perusing the books--almost all in Japanese--at the bookstore Kinokuniya and wondering who the hell (including--or perhaps that should be excluding?--Kate Moss) could pull off these tops (from sewing pattern books):And spending way too much money on stationary and pens/pencils in KSG (the bookstore's entirely separate pen/pencil/stationary-orgy store).

I would so love to live in Japan, but it is too expensive and teaching abroad there pays crap.

Good times, great company, good book (Eat, Pray, Love), at Luna Park restaurant for The SF Book & Brunch Club-Saturday Evening Version. (Pictured left to right: William, Angela, Maria, and me).We started off with the Warm Goat Cheese Fondue with Grilled Bread and Sliced Apples, and then Maria and I split the Grilled Alaskan Salmon with Asparagus, Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Mushroom Vinaigrette--both of which were quite delish.And, as no trip to Luna Park is complete without their Bananas Foster, we had a couple to share and some of the Make It Yourself S'Mores. Finally, no grand meal is complete without some good wine, so I indulged in the Cava, Brut Rosé, Marques de
Monistrol, Spain, NV (with desert) and the Albariño, Martin Códax, Rías Baixas,
Spain, 2006 (which was divinely delicious!).

Here's a pic of Jeffrey (John's brother), John, and I on the Tower of Terror ride at Disneyland California Adventure theme park:I'll admit that I am all too pleased to see the lady in the pink tank top in the front row appear as if she is about to pee her pants from fright!

I've decided it is time for me to go skydiving as none of the rides at any of the parks do anything but make me giggle and I'd certainly like to feel as if my stomach were about to fly out through my head!

Yesterday, while getting a cavity filled, I got to meet Robin Williams at my dentist's office! He was kind--especially considering that I was all silly-starstruck about meeting him. I told him that my favorite movie of his was One Hour Photo, to which he replied that it was quite a creepy movie (and indeed it was, but very well done).

Although I had my camera with me, I didn't want to be rude and ask him for a picture. I'm sure he wants to live a life of semi-normality and no one (including me) really wants to get their picture taken after a visit with the dentist. Thus you get a publicity photo from Fest21.com:He essentially looked just like the above (even down to the fact that he was wearing a black t-shirt.)